ARDEIDZH, HERONS. —GEN. 228-34. 267 
is very great; and it has even been noted that a specimen may have one leg larger 
than the other, and the toes of one foot longer than those of the other—a circum- 
stance perhaps resulting from the common habit of these birds, of standing for a 
long time on one leg. * 
228-34. Genus ARDEA Linneus. 
*Species of large size, and varied dark colors. (Ardea.) 
Great Blue Heron. Back without peculiar plumes at any season, but 
scapulars lengthened and lanceolate ; an occipital crest, two feathers of which 
are long and filamentous; long loose feathers on the lower neck. Length 
about 4 feet; extent 6; bill 54 inches; tarsus 64; middle toe and claw 5; 
wing 18-20; tail 7. ? much smaller than ¢. Adult of both sexes grayish- 
blue above, the neck pale purplish-brown with a white throat-line, the head 
black with a white frontal patch, the under parts mostly black, streaked 
with white; tibie, edge of wing, and some of the lower neck feathers, 
orange-brown ; bill and eyes yellow, culmen dusky, lores and legs greenish. 
The young differ considerably, but are never white, and cannot be confounded 
with any of the succeeding. Entire temperate North America, abundant ; 
migratory in northerly portions. Wuus., vili, 68, - Ge INfomits, an. 4) 
AUD Vis 122.) pl. 3093, BD., 668. . . 8 . . HERODIAS. 
Florida Heron. Similar; larger; bill Ga: tarsus 8 or more; tibize bare 
nearly $ their length; middle toe not % the tarsus; below, white, the sides 
streaked with black; neck ashy ; ay with the crest, white, the forehead 
streaked with black. Southern Florida ( Wurdemann). Bo., 669. It 
seems improbable that this is anything more than a special state of the last 
species, but as it is useless to exchange one doubtful opinion for another, 
I retain it, pending final determination. . . . . . . WURDEMANNII. 
** Species (large or small) white at all times. (dAudubonia, Herodias and 
Garzetta.) 
Great White Heron. Size and form nearly as in the foregoing ; no greatly 
elongated occipital feathers nor lengthened scapulars ; bill 645; tarsus 84; 
tibie bare 6. Color entirely pure white; bill and eyes yellow; culmen 
greenish at base; lores bluish; legs yellow, greenish in front. Southern 
Florida. Auvp., vi, 110, pl. 368; Nurr., ii, 89; Bp., 670. OCCIDENTALIS. 
: Great White Egret. White Heron. No obviously lengthened feathers 
on the head at any time; in the breeding season, back with very long 
plumes of decomposed feathers drooping far beyond the tail; neck closely 
feathered; plumage entirely white at all seasons; Dill, lores and eyes, 
yellow; legs and feet black. Length 36-42 (not inciuding the dorsal 
train); wing 16-17; bill nearly 5; tarsus nearly 6; rather larger speci- 
mens constitute var. californica Bn., 667. Distribution the same as that 
of the snowy heron; abundant. WHLs., vii, 106, pl..6l,. £4 3 Nuwr., at, 
Pau. vi, 132, pl.370; Bp.; 666. . - . . . . EGRETTA. 
Little White Egret. Snowy Heron. Adult with a ees occipital crest of 
